KABAROLEThe tier system of governance is good provided it doesn't conflict with the customs of the people, according to the Prime Minister of Tooro kingdom."What we want as a kingdom is peace, development, and unity and if the regional tier will bring this, then I have no problem with it," Mr Stephen Irumba told scribes recently in Fort Portal town.

Mr Irumba, popularly known as Omutima Gw'Ihanga, was briefing journalists about the kingdom's new year plans.

"Our culture should remain uninterrupted by the new system," he said, adding that his fear was that the tier provides for election of a premier under universal adult suffrage instead of the king appointing the chief minister .

"This would mean usurping the powers of the king and rendering him useless," he said.Buganda kingdom has fervently opposed the regional tier in preference to a federal system of governance commonly called federo.

The newly appointed premier said that as soon as he announces a new cabinet, the team would focus on poverty eradication, sensitising the people on the importance of cultural institutions and fighting illiteracy.

The premier said Tooro is facing a financial crisis and needs support from the central government and individuals.

He commended the Bakiga and Bafumbira resident in Tooro for supporting the kingdom financially and materially. Mr Irumba urged local governments in Kamwenge, Kyenjojo and Kabarole which form the kingdom, to consider remitting some funds to the cultural body.

Asked why he had taken long to announce his cabinet, the premier said he was still consulting.

BUGANDA will never waver in its demand for federalism and repossession of her land taken by the central government, Kabaka Ronald Mutebi has declared.

The Kabaka pointed out that the 1962 Constitution gave the kingdom a federal status and returned land that was taken from it by colonialists. However, he added, former president Apollo Obote reversed the gains in 1966. It is then that Obote abolished kingdoms and forced Kabaka Mutesa II into exile.

Mutebi observed that the Baganda clearly demanded federo during the submission for proposals before the making of the 1995 Constitution and during the process of reviewing it under the Ssempebwa Commission.

“Buganda’s stand has not changed. The struggle for federo is enormous. And I am aware it will not be won by one person or a few people. We have to fight on, united as one block,” Mutebi asserted.

In response to the notion that his sacking of the Katikkiro Dan Muliika was due to political interference, Mutebi observed that although political differences were healthy and brought development, they should not divide the people.

He added: “Under the Constitution the kingdom is barred from partisan politics. Indeed we cannot prosper when we are divided. Differences in opinions should not breed hatred.”

On allegations that the kingdom was riddled by corruption, the Kabaka noted that he instituted a royal commission headed by A. Ntate in May 2002 to probe the income and expenditure of Buganda.

He called upon the Lukiiko (Buganda parliament) to debate the findings of that commission. “We shall relentlessly work to streamline accountability at Mengo,” Mutebi vowed.

The king also urged his subjects to work for personal development and observed that since the 1970s, the living standards of the Baganda had been deteriorating due to a slump in cotton prices and destruction of coffee by the coffee wilt disease.

Kabaka Mutebi made the remarks yesterday while opening the 15th session of the Buganda Lukiiko at Bulange, Mengo. His wife, Nabagereka Sylivia Nagginda and other royals attended.

At the same function, three new ministers were introduced. They are Edward Lutaaya Mukomazi (agriculture), Fred Masagazi (education) and Medard Lubega (information).

The exit of Katikkiro Dan Muliika has been a major issue of late. Some Ugandans even demonstrated at Bulange, Mengo, against Mr Muliika's dismissal. Although some Baganda had developed love for Mr Muliika, I wonder whether it was based on an understanding of the man or on ignorance; ignorance of how Buganda runs, and how he or any other Katikkiro comes to and leaves power.

Many have been politically biased over this issue and yet Mengo is not a political entity; it's cultural. While appointing Mr Muliika, Kabaka Ronald Mutebi based his decision on grounds that we are not privy to. And that is what our culture dictates. He has power to hire and fire, without giving reasons.

But what surprised me most was that a man of Mr Muliika's age could challenge the Kabaka to explain why he fired him!

FederalismBut let us look at another issue. Many people have argued that Mr Muliika was fired because he was fighting for federalism. We however need to discuss this issue further because many Baganda and other Ugandans do not seem to understand it.

There are mainly two political systems; unitary and federal. Uganda is currently running on a unitary system. Deciding what system should take centre stage in Uganda is not arrived at from a cultural but rather from a political basis. So, Mengo cannot demand federalism in isolation of other Ugandans.

To federate means that regions in a given country want to live together - and use some assets collectively but exert some control over other assets. For example, Buganda can decide to control its immigration laws but also depend on the national army for its defence.

True federoCanada, in which I live, is a federal state. However, Quebec [a part of Canada] has [after many years] refused to sign the Canadian Constitution because it is not in its best interest to do so.

When regions of a given country agree on what [assets or services] they will combine and what they cannot combine, they then endorse a final document of understanding, which they try to sell to the central government. The latter then makes a decision based on several other factors -- but many of which are based on "what is in it for it [the central government".

Piece of adviceIf Mengo or Buganda wants federalism, then they ought to start the campaign in Lango, Karamoja, Ankole and Kigezi regions, etc. They need to convince others of the need to federate. Then and only then can they come up with a final memoranda of understanding and present it to the central government.

I therefore disagree with folks who claim that Mr Muliika was fighting for Buganda's federalism. With whom were you going to federate? In that federation, what were you going to gain or lose?

The more you look at this issue, the more you realise that Buganda is acting with an "I do not care about any one in Uganda," attitude, which is wrong. And if that is the case, then we are not looking for federo but rather to secede. And if to secede is what we want then let us state so boldly.

With effect from February 2007, the Catholic Archdiocese of Kampala will be governed under a federal system. Different pastoral zones and commissions have been created and entrusted with Episcopal Vicars, who will exercise delegated powers from the Archbishop.

This arrangement will go a long way to realise the principle of subsidiarity. This principle is a call to guarantee a space for both personal and collective responsible participation, at all levels. It endows the people of God to identify local needs and solve them as locally as possible.

A higher organisation must not, therefore, claim for itself the functions which the lower organisation can perform adequately. If, in case of disability, the higher organisation takes over, then the main purpose should be to enable the lower organisation resume its role as soon as possible.

On the other hand, it is equally socially unjust if a lower organisation arrogates to itself functions that can be fulfilled for the common good only by a higher organisation. According to E.F. Schumacher, "the burden of proof lies always on those who want to deprive a lower level of its functions and thereby of its freedom and responsibility. Good governance is always government by exception. Except for exceptional cases, the subsidiary unit must be defended and upheld".

The principle of subsidiarity does not work automatically, however; it calls for a level of maturity that comes with education of people for personal responsibility and co-responsibility. Church and society must work to establish structures that encourage people's readiness and capacity to accept responsibility.

"The legacy of Catholicism's concept of subsdiarity is a loud cry for liberty, freedom of choice, voluntary association, local community and pluralism of custom and manner", comments B.V. Manno (Subsidiarity and Pluralism: A Social Philosophy Perspective).

This goes a long way to realise a self-governing, self-propagating and self-sustaining church. The doctrine of subsidiarity was introduced in the Church by Pope Pius XI (1922-1939). "If the principle of subsidiarity is applied faithfully, there will soon no longer exist a world divided into rulers and the ruled," said Pope John XXIII (1958-1963). The Catholic Church in Uganda is already enjoying success under the four federal metropolitan provinces governed by four archbishops.

As a political entity, Uganda could also offer a good case for federalism, as already agitated by some regions and an arrangement that has already proved viable in the past.

MEMBERS of the Buganda Forum, a cultural pressure group, alleged yesterday that they had unearthed a plot by the Central government to oust the Mengo establishment and throw the monarchy into a crisis similar to that of 1966. Buganda Forum champions mainly Buganda’s interests.

The members led by their chairman Sulaiman Kiggundu told journalists in Kampala yesterday that they had learnt that the plot to oust the Mengo team was being pushed by State House.

Dr Kiggundu (right), who is also the national chairman of the opposition FDC, said several meetings had already been held.

The Minister for the Presidency Beatrice Wabudeya, however, dismissed the claims yesterday as a concoction. “All those meetings in State House are just somebody’s imagination. Why should we be concerned about Buganda only. The Batoro, Banyoro etc have kingdoms too,” she said.

Dr Kiggundu said the meetings are largely meant to lay strategy for weakening the Mengo establishment.

He said the meetings that have been held in State House and several other venues have taken place since June last year.

Dr Kiggundu said several central government ministers; their colleagues in the Mengo government, former Mengo ministers, Buganda elders and some employees in various Mengo institutions have attended the clandestine meetings.

He produced a September 28, 2006 correspondence from the Principle Private Secretary to the President Amelia Kyambadde inviting the Vice President Gilbert Bukenya to one of the meetings to discuss the Buganda Lukiiko.

Reads the letter; “This is to inform you that H.E the President will chair a meeting on Friday November 10, 2006 on the above subject [Buganda Lukiiko] at State House Nakasero.”

“By copy of this letter, relevant people have been informed. The protocol officer will communicate the exact time of this appointment through your Principle Private Secretary,” Mrs Kyambadde’s letter reads.

“We have been saddened that it was resolved in these meetings that the Kabaka sacks his Katikkiro Dan Muliika so that a weaker person is appointed to replace Muliika. The preferred person is one who would nod as the Kabaka’s Kingdom is destroyed,” Dr Kiggundu said.

“Mr Muliika is regarded by the Central government as a stumbling block to the regional tier system of government. He [Muliika] has re-energised Buganda’s quest for federo. Even other areas like Acholi have seen the advantages of federo which is giving the government sleepless nights,” he said.

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